Any thoughts on 2014 hopefuls who have been playing in Europe? Seguin and Bergeron seem even more likely to me, and Thornton seems even less likely than before.

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Originally Posted by Mr Writer

Ya Thornton is out...but other than that I don't think HC will put a whole lot of stock into Euro stats... The fact that Seguin and Bergeron seem to be playing well there is just 1/10 of the equation. Or at least it should be... the real test comes when the NHL fires up again... btw which will be real soon.

In an amendment to my earlier post, it looks as though the lockout won't be ending soon as the PA threw a monkey wrench in the process yesterday... So, our lockout junior team is still in tack for now...

As for the Olympics... and lets say the NHL season is wiped out, all those players who went to Europe mixed with those from the AHL if available in the springtime, send them all to the world championships, Hall, Eberele, RNH, Seguin, Schultz, Couture, and others... and who plays the best gets a shot at the summer evaluation camp and chance to impress....

And no, I didn't include Skinner in that list as the last I heard he balked at the idea of playing in the AHL and further developing his game for sitting on his *** and playing shinny... so if I were Stevie Y I'd be scratching his name of the list.

Personally I prefer Weber as captain, Towes and Sid to wear As. Just my opinion, but I'm not in the make Sid the Captain camp.

Same here - I'd prefer Weber over Crosby too.

C - Weber
A - Crosby
A - Toews
A - Keith

Don't really see Nash or Staal having the gravitas (for lack of a better word) to wear a letter for this group, which is why I slotted in Keith for the third "A" (Canada typically appoints three "A"s). Other than that, maybe Giroux? He's an OG rookie, but seems like a solid leader for Philly (both in terms of his vocal leadership and leading by example). We'll see if he steps up as a leader at next summer's orientation camp.

That's my thinking anyway - let him just focus on playing hockey instead of putting the responsibility for leading the time on/off the ice, being the "face" of the team, handling the inevitable media scrutinty, and all the other trappings of being the captain. Not to say that he won't be asked to shoulder some of this load anyway, but personally I'm of the view that your captain doesn't need to be your best player (and vice versa).

I just think Weber garners more respect from all of the other players. Sid not so much...Sid is somewhat of a polarizing figure. And I'd prefer for Sid just to concentrate on playing and not leading so much...He's is one of the guys counted on to be a leader, but the real leaders in my mind are Weber and Captain Serious Towes. Towes has been unreal ever since the 2007 WJC.... I mean what kind of mad squabbles you got to have to do what he done in the shoot-out semi-final. I'm probably more of a Towes guy than a Sid guy. I confess.

And no, I didn't include Skinner in that list as the last I heard he balked at the idea of playing in the AHL and further developing his game for sitting on his *** and playing shinny... so if I were Stevie Y I'd be scratching his name of the list.

Why do people make things like this up? Rutherford said that he didn't want Skinner playing because of his injury last season.

Why do people make things like this up? Rutherford said that he didn't want Skinner playing because of his injury last season.

I heard differently. I head he was assigned and balked at the idea preferring instead to play shinny. And Rutherford granted him that.... reluctantly.

Regardless, Skinner is in my mind out of consideration for the Olympic team anyway..so he can play shinny all he wants or road hockey or take up basketball... It would be a mistake including him now anyway.

I heard differently. I head he was assigned and balked at the idea preferring instead to play shinny. And Rutherford granted him that.... reluctantly.

Regardless, Skinner is in my mind out of consideration for the Olympic team anyway..so he can play shinny all he wants or road hockey or take up basketball... It would be a mistake including him now anyway.

He should not be out of the running yet. If he comes back and lights it up, he should still merit consideration. He played great hockey in the WC this past spring and looked amazing on the big ice at times. He should merit consideration, just like guys like Hall, etc.

He should not be out of the running yet. If he comes back and lights it up, he should still merit consideration. He played great hockey in the WC this past spring and looked amazing on the big ice at times. He should merit consideration, just like guys like Hall, etc.

I didn't think he played all that great at the WC aside from decent game against Finland.

I didn't think he played all that great at the WC aside from decent game against Finland.

Personally I think we have better options at the wing position than Skinner. I guess he's one of those guys that doesn't have a long track record or much of a playoff resume, so in my view he's unlikely to get the benefit of the doubt from Yzerman & Hockey Canada assuming they don't get an opportunity to properly evaluate him before next December.

That said, if he can develop good chemistry with the Staal Bros. whenever the NHL starts up again, he has a shot. I'd say he gets invited to next summer's orientation camp but, again, I think we have quite a few better options at this point.

This lockout is killing the chances for the young guys like Seguin, Skinner, E.Kane, etc. Even if they start tearing it up at the beginning of next season, it would probably be too late. Stamkos in 2010, Crosby in 2006, even if one of them can have a similar start to the season as those two, it wont do them any good. Hockey Canada will opt for the older players, (Thornton, St. Louis, Iginla, etc), which imo is a good thing, as they are all still better players at this point. Lets not bring young guys because they're young. Players like Skinner and Seguin have shown they can be good top six players in the NHL, but they haven't shown why they should be picked over players like Staal or St. Louis, who are still performing at elite levels.

This lockout is killing the chances for the young guys like Seguin, Skinner, E.Kane, etc. Even if they start tearing it up at the beginning of next season, it would probably be too late. Stamkos in 2010, Crosby in 2006, even if one of them can have a similar start to the season as those two, it wont do them any good. Hockey Canada will opt for the older players, (Thornton, St. Louis, Iginla, etc), which imo is a good thing, as they are all still better players at this point. Lets not bring young guys because they're young. Players like Skinner and Seguin have shown they can be good top six players in the NHL, but they haven't shown why they should be picked over players like Staal or St. Louis, who are still performing at elite levels.

Please God: No. That's exactly what lead to that terrible 2006 team: Putting more stock in experience than in talent.

Please God, no. That's exactly what lead to that terrible 2006 team: Putting more stock in experience than in talent.

There needs to be a balance, obviously. I actually have quite a bit of faith in Yzerman and the current regime to put aside loyalties (whether to their club team, previous Canadian Olympians, etc.) for the good of assembling the best possible team at that time. Much moreso than I did in Gretzky et al.

In any event we'll have sufficient experience such that we won't need to bring along guys like Iginla or Thornton just for that reason - Crosby, Toews, Staal, Perry, Bergeron, Nash, Richards, Weber, Doughty, Keith, and Seabrook are all at least good bets to return in '14. Getzlaf has a shot, if he can return to his '09-'10 form. Giroux demonstrates outstanding leadership in Philly. NHL veterns like Sharp, Jordan Staal, Neal, Carter, and Letang are in the mix. So really only 3-4 spots up front are in play for the youngsters, and Tavares and Eberle are locks to fill two of those. So we'll be alright without resurrecting the likes of Iginla, Thornton, or guys like that for one last go 'round with Team Canada.

Please God: No. That's exactly what lead to that terrible 2006 team: Putting more stock in experience than in talent.

Those guys I mentioned may be older, but they're still playing at a higher level then the young guys. Im sure I'm not the only one who would rather see a Martin St. Louis over a Jeff Skinner.

Of course, I do expect to see Eberle and Tavares, but those guys proved they can be among the best players in the NHL. I can't say the same for Skinner or E.Kane, or whichever young guy with potential someone wants to throw on the team. My mindset is that the best current players should go, and if that means Thornton or St. Louis, then so be it.

I heard differently. I head he was assigned and balked at the idea preferring instead to play shinny. And Rutherford granted him that.... reluctantly.

Regardless, Skinner is in my mind out of consideration for the Olympic team anyway..so he can play shinny all he wants or road hockey or take up basketball... It would be a mistake including him now anyway.

I've never heard that, and I live in Kitchener and they followed Skinner pretty closely for the lockout. It's highly unlikely Skinner would say that anyway, very humble kid.